Community Board supplies wishlist for possible targeted rate

March 11th, 2011

The Motueka Community Board is mulling the possibility of an extra TDC rate targeted at residents in the Motueka ward for discretionary local funding, and has prepared for Tasman District Council a wishlist of items the rate money could be used for.

Board chairman David Ogilvie signalled his desire to raise funds for local discretionary funding at the Decmeber 2010 meeting, prompting debate on both sides as to whether or not now is the right time to be adding a new rate for Motuekans.

David said his reasoning was based on past difficulties getting TDC to allocate general rate funds to small projects the Board thought were important. He said completing these "small jobs" would enhance Motueka and "resolve some persistent and old requests at the same time".

At the Decmeber meeting the Community Board agreed that the increase be stated in the Draft Annual Plan, and rely on submissions from Motueka ratepayers as to whether or not is should proceed.

David supplied his wishlist to Council's Strategic Development Department menager Susan Edwards in an email. He said that $5 extra in rates would raise enough money to allow the Board's discretionary funds budget from the present $5,000 to $30,000, and this could be spent on the following suggested improvements as a starting point:

Pram crossings for mobility scooters - 5 in the central areas of Motueka.

Footpaths along Old Wharf Road from number 108 to Motueka key, and Martin's Farm Road, Kaiteriteri.

A shared footpath/cycleway along Thorp Street from Fearon Street to Staples Street and along Staples Street to High St, to provide a safe circuit for cyclists and walkers.

A kerb and channel along either Hau Road, or Wharf Road in Riwaka or Lodder Lane.

Jointly fund with Our Town Motueka a litter collection for out-of-town areas such as Riwaka to Kaiteriteri.

The publication of a cycling booklet on Motueka district recreation road and mountainbike rides.

Permanent raised bed materials, such as sleepers, for the Motueka Community Gardens.

Mark the Whitwells car park for about 75 car-parking bays, conditional on the surface being upgraded and an agreement for its use as a public car park for five years.

Additional funding for positioning the Kaka Beak sculpture at Wallace St.

Level and seal the cycleway/walkway between the Recreation Centre and Thorp Bush alongside the Woodlands Drain.